Refrigerator lining and method of making



Sept. l1, 1928.

R. A; RIEK REFRIGERATOR LINING AND METHOD 0F MAKING Filed June 10; 19.24;` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IHHH annular.

""Patented Sept. 1l, 1928.

. making y' UNITED STATES 1,684,145 PATENT oFFicE.

RUDOLPH A.. OI' RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN.

Rfll'tFIB'IG'IIZRA'IOIB.` LININGHAND METHOD OF MAKING.

Application led J'une 10,

This invention relates to linings for refrigerators andthe like and to the method of them.

The object of the invention is to' so construct a lining of this character every wall of which is sanitary and easily cleaned providing a maximum amount of cleanliness with the highest degree of refrigeration.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method for producing such a lining whereby speed and simplicity in construction is obtained...

With the foregoing and other objects in4 view which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the iinproved method of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the' accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view of one of the sheets used in the construction of the improved refrigerator lining constituting a part of this invention Fig. 2 is a similar view of one of the sheets used to,` form an end member of the lining;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the other end sheet;

Fig. 4 represents the parts of the lining in position ready to be welded taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

f Fig; 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation showing the spot welds employed in the formation of the lining;

Fig. 7 isa detail perspective view of the lining complete taken from the rear ofone corner; and A Fig.y 8shows parts of the lining during the process of welding, the continuous roll Welder being shown in dot and dash.

The refrigerator lining constituting a part of this invention is shown in substantiallyv rectangular form and is composed of three sheets of etal 1, 10 and 15 which are united and weded, together to formthe lining in a manner presently to be described.

' Sheet 1 which is rectangular in form comprises the back 2, top 3 and bottom 4 formed by bendingthe vsheet transversely along theV lines a and b as shown in Fig. 1. The corners of sheet 1 are cut awayas, shown at 9 to facilitate folding along the lineslc and d to provide the flanges 7 which extend outwardly at rightangles from the members 3 and 4, said 'flanges being equipped with forwardly lines e, f.

y'1924. seriai'm. 719,204.

from the sheet and to which are designed to be welded the Vend members 10 and 15.

Any holes such as the drain pipe opening 2() and apertures 21 for shelf supports are punched in sheet l.

The end sheets 10 and 15 have their outer corners cut away as shown at 16 andthe frontl edges thereof are folded outwardly at right angles along the lines h to provide the flanges 11 and 12 respectively which are folded longitudinally along the lines i to provide outwardly extending right angular lips 13 and 14: The members 10 and 15 may also have apertures 17 punched therein to receive shelf supports.

The sheets having been formed as above described are now ready for the next step and are placed in the position shown in Fig.- 7 with the edges of sheets lO'and 15 lying flat against the outstanding lips or flanges and 6 of the top, back and bottom members, 2, 3 and/4 respectively. These sheets when placed as shown at 7 are then spot welded 'as shown at 18 in Fig. 6 whereby the members of the lining are held together. y

The lining is now ready for the special continuous spot weld used in this construction which consists in running the contacting edges through the continuous roll welder shown at R so that a one piece joint is made.

A lining constructedv as herein shown and described takes but a minimum amount of time to weld as compared with theforincr Oxy-acetylene Welds commonly in use.

After the members of the lining have been assembled and welded as shown in 7 the usual method of vitreous enameling is em` lplgyed in pic-kling, dipping, spraying etc..

claim l U 1. The method of assembling sheetswof metal which consists in bending a metal sheet to provide flanges along two opposed edges,

bending the sheet of metal along lines extendy free edges thereof and extending outwardly from the walls, thereafter applying flat sheets of metal to the outer faces of the flanges, the1 30 the flanges and past the angles formed edges of said sheets being substantially flush with the free edges of the' flanges and said sheets being supported in planes substantially parallel with the planes occupied by the llangesfjoining the marginal portions of said sheets to the flanges by spot Welding, and finally producing a continuous unbroken weld between each flat sheet and the flanges contacted thereby, thereby to roduce a continuous sealed joint extending rom one end to the other of the flange and along three edges of theapplied sheet.

2. A sheet metal lining structure for refrigerators including a single-sheet of Inet-al, parallel flanges extending from one end to the other of' said sheet at opposed sides thereof, the said sheet being bent transversely along lines extending across the flanges to provide a back and opposed side Walls, each flange oecupying a plane at right angles to the planeoccupied by the back and side walls and being extended outwardly from said Walls and from the anglais.r formed thereby, and flat metal sheets ing upon the outer faces of the flanges at the respective sides of the bent sheet, said flat sheets being parallel with the planes occupied by the flanges and being joined to said flanges by continuous unbroken Welds extending throughout the Width and length of y the bent sheet, thereby providing unbroken sealed connections between the sheets.

3. The method -of assembling sheets of posed free edgesthereof and extending outwardly from the Walls, thereafter appl ing flat sheets of metal to the outer faces ofY the flanges, the edges of said sheets being substantially flush with the free edges of the flanges and said sheets being supported in planes substantially parallel with the planes occupied by the flanges, joining the marginal portions of the flat sheets to the flanges by spot welding, producing a continuous "unbroken weld between each flat sheet and the flanges contacted thereby, thereby to producea continuous sealed joint extending from one end to the other of the flange and along three edo'es of the applied sheets, and finally provi ing the inner surfaces of all of the plates with an unbroken porcelain coating presenting smooth flat surfaces.

ln'testimony that'I claim the foregoing as v my own, I have hereto aiiixed rny signature.

RUDOLPH A. RIEK.

theflanges extending continuously along op- 

